“There are no taboos on thinking”: Habeck is examining extensions for nuclear and coal

“There are no taboos”
Habeck is examining nuclear and coal extensions

How should the energy supply continue without Putin’s gas? Economics Minister Habeck has checked whether nuclear or coal-fired power plants could run longer. The Green politician doubts that – and instead is counting on Russia keeping its promises.

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck considers an extension of the service life of coal or nuclear power plants to be unsuitable for compensating for supply bottlenecks through a possible reduction in Russian deliveries. Nevertheless, his ministry is checking that, he said in the ARD “Report from Berlin”: “There are no taboos.”

Germany can do without Russian gas for this winter and summer, but the purchasing strategy must be significantly expanded for next winter. “The most important step would then of course be to reduce gas hunger as much as possible,” said Habeck. A plan for this will be presented soon.

The situation is the same for coal-fired power plants. The federal government has set itself the goal of achieving the coal phase-out agreed for 2038 as early as 2030, if possible. Because of the risk that Russia could reduce its gas supplies and thus affect the German energy industry, an extension is now being discussed. “Letting it run longer means longer dependence on hard coal from Russia,” explained Habeck. Or Germany would buy coal somewhere else, which would result in a different dependency. The way out is to phase out fossil fuels.

Habeck: If Putin cuts off the gas supply, it will be forever

In the similar discussion about an extension for the last three nuclear power plants still in operation, the preliminary examination by his ministry showed that this would also not be a way out. “I would not ideologically resist that,” said Habeck. But: “Nuclear power would not help us for the winter of 2022/23.” The preparations for the forthcoming shutdowns have progressed so far that the nuclear power plants can continue to be operated “only with the greatest safety concerns and possibly with fuel supplies that have not yet been secured”. “And we certainly don’t want that.”

Habeck expressed confidence that Russia will meet its delivery commitments because it also needs the revenue. “Should Russia wantonly cut these supplies, then of course the decision has been made – then they will never be restored. I think (President Vladimir) Putin knows that too.”

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